The Sea-Ringed World: Sacred Stories of the Americas

The Sea-Ringed World: Sacred Stories of the Americas — page 7
However the nights were very dark Human beings set out to inhabit that first world Spider Grandmother gave them advice never ceasing to weave her web to which she continuously added some new river or tree Then down the mountains came a trickster whose name was Iisawu Coyote And Muy’ingwa a generous spirit creator of maize Treating both with respect the people lived happily until something happened in their hearts They lost their way They began to behave so badly that Taawa crossed his arms over his chest and his crown of sunbeams grew dark The people were frightened as the sky broke into pieces and the earth shook A rain of fire fell from the clouds until a curtain of hail extinguished the flames and buried the houses The peo ple cried and tried to get to safety but it was impossible Taawa had made himself dark to destroy the world and punish the evil that had taken over the humans hearts Spider Grandmother felt compassion for those few who had kept their hearts pure She descended from her web amid the stars and led the chosen ones toward the Grand Canyon When all had assembled a giant hollow reed burst from the depths of the huge fissure in the ground Then Spider Grandmother said with a very strong voice My children the first world is over I have woven a home for you with beautiful meadows and blue buffalo resplendent skies and eagles of majestic flight That world awaits but you must strive hard to reach it You must climb upward inside this hollow reed that the Grand Canyon has gifted Help one another as you go After a long night you will arrive at the land that I your Spider Grandmother have promised The last human beings obeyed her They climbed up the great 2